GAMETOGENESIS

Mature gametes are produced by a process called gametogenesis. Gametogenesis in

testes is called spermatogenesis, and in ovaries, oogenesis.

Spermatogenesis
Walls of the
seminiferous tubules contain
differentiating germ cells
arranged in a stratified layer
five to eight cells
deep (Figure 1). Germ
cells develop in close contact
with large Sertoli
(sustentacular) cells, which
extend from the periphery of
the seminiferous tubules to the
lumen and provide
nourishment during germ-cell
development and
differentiation (Figure 2). The
outermost layers contain
spermatogonia, diploid cells Figure 1. Section of a seminiferous tubule containing male germ
cells. More than 200 meters long, highly coiled seminiferous
that have increased in number
tubules are packed in each human testis. This colored scanning
by mitosis. Each electron micrograph reveals numerous spermatozoa within the
spermatogonium increases in seminiferous tubules. Each consisting of a head (green), which
size and becomes a primary contains the genetic material that fertilizes the female egg cell, and a
spermatocyte. Each primary tail (blue), which propels the sperm. The heads of the sperm are
spermatocyte then undergoes buried in Sertoli cells (yellow and orange), which nourish the
developing sperm.
the first meiotic division to
become two secondary spermatocytes.

Each secondary spermatocyte enters the second meiotic division and produces two
spermatids, each containing the haploid number (23 in humans) of chromosomes. Thus, in the
two steps of meiosis each primary spermatocyte gives rise to four spermatids. A spermatid
usually contains a combination of its parents’ chromosomes but may contain all chromosomes
that the male inherited from his mother or from his father.

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 Figure 2. Spermatogenesis. Section of seminiferous tubule showing spermatogenesis.

Without further divisions the spermatids transform into mature spermatozoa (or
sperm, Figure 3). Modifications include great reduction of cytoplasm, condensation of the
nucleus into a head, formation of a middle piece containing mitochondria, and a whiplike,
flagellar tail for locomotion. The head consists of a nucleus containing the chromosomes for
heredity and an acrosome.

Figure 3. A mature spermatozoa.

Oogenesis
Early germ cells in the ovary, called oogonia, increase in number by mitosis. Each
oogonium contains the diploid number of chromosomes. After the oogonia cease to increase in
number, they grow in size and become primary oocytes (Figure 4). Before the first meiotic
division, the chromosomes in each primary oocyte meet in pairs, paternal and maternal
homologues, just as in spermatogenesis. When the first maturation (reduction) division occurs,
the cytoplasm is divided unequally. One of the two daughter cells, the secondary oocyte, is

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large and receives most of the cytoplasm; the other is very small and is called the first polar
body. Each of these daughter cells, however, has received half of the chromosomes.
In the second meiotic division, the secondary oocyte divides into a large ootid and
another small polar body is formed. If the first polar body also divides in this division, which
sometimes happens, there are three polar bodies and one ootid. The ootid develops into a
functional, haploid ovum. Polar bodies are nonfunctional, and they disintegrate. Formation of
these polar bodies is necessary to dispose of excess chromosomes that result from each nuclear
division during meiosis. In addition, the unequal cytoplasmic division makes possible a large
cell with the cytoplasm containing a full set of cytoplasmic components needed for early
development. Thus a mature ovum or egg has N (haploid) number of chromosomes, the same
as a sperm. However, each primary oocyte gives rise to only one functional gamete instead of
four as in spermatogenesis.

Figure 4. Oogenesis in humans.

In humans, the egg does not actually complete meiotic division before fertilization
occurs. The general rule is that development is arrested during prophase I of the first meiotic
division (in the primary oocyte phase). Meiosis resumes at the time of ovulation and is
completed only if it is fertilized by sperm. The ova begin the first meiotic division at about the
thirteenth week of fetal development. Then their development arrests in prophase I as the
primary oocyte until puberty, at which time one of these primary oocytes typically develops
into a secondary oocyte each menstrual month. Meiosis II is completed only when the
secondary oocyte is penetrated by a spermatozoon.